The singer has been in a relationship with his former school friend Cherry Seaborn since the middle of 2015 and the pair spent most of 2016 travelling the world together as Ed enjoyed a year off from the music business.

The Castle on the Hill star couldn't be happier with the pretty hockey player and he knew he had fallen hard for Cherry when he agreed to add some feline friends to their home.

Ed Sheeran with his girlfriend Cherry Seaborn in London (Image: Splash)

Speaking on BBC Radio 2, he shared: "I'm actually the happiest I've been and it's because I had a year to spend with someone. I've always started relationships then gone off on tour.

"I spent every day for a year with this certain person, we kind of have a strong relationship now which is good.

"I'm really secure now, we live together and we have cats, and I think when you have cats that's kind of it."

He has penned a song for his lover (Image: 2014 Getty Images)

Ed has penned the song Perfect for his lover on his upcoming third album Divide but he chickened out of playing it in front of her and instead sent her the intimate track via email.

The musician - who is going to release the track as a single just before Christmas - said: "I just recorded it and sent it because she was living in New York at the time so I didn't see her reaction. I think she liked it, it's a gooden."

Ed will be heading back out on the road later this year in support of his new LP but he isn't worried about his touring schedule putting any pressure on his relationship.

He explained: "The road is not going to be as intense anymore, it's not like I'm doing theatres every day, I have lots of days off and it's mostly around Europe for the first half of the year, it's gonna be fun."